1. Insect
  2. Vegetable Crops
  3. Vegetable Crops
  4. Hosts and Pests of Vegetable Crops

Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Aphid

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Image related to Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Aphid
Bean aphid
Aphis fabae Scopoli
Female adult immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection
Image related to Melon (Cantaloupe, muskmelon, and watermelon)-Aphid
Potato aphid
Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas
Female adult immature
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

An assortment of melon aphids (winged and wingless) on the underside of a watermelon leaf.  Notice the aphid mummy (parasitized aphid) in the center of the image.

Michael Bush, Yakima County Horticultural Pest & Disease Board

Includes

Bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Melon aphid (Aphis gossypii)
Potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae)

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Management-cultural control

Aphid populations tend to be higher in plants that are fertilized liberally with nitrogen. Row covers can be effective.

Home gardeners can use row covers or wash aphids from plants with a strong stream of water.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

Apply to both tops and undersides of leaves.

  • azadirachtin (neem extract)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (usually as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin)
  • carbaryl
  • cyfluthrin
  • deltamethrin
  • esfenvalerate
  • horticultural oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • imidicloprid
  • insecticidal soap-Some formulations OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion-Do not apply unless leaves are dry.
  • permethrin
  • plant-derived essential oils (rosemary, peppermint etc.)-These have some efficacy against aphids. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • pyrethrins (often combined with other ingredients)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • zeta-cypermethrin

Note: Pesticides can injure cucurbits. Be sure foliage is dry at the time of application.

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • acetamiprid (Assail 30SG) at 0.047 to 0.075 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 5 applications or 0.5 lb ai/a per season.
  • alpha-cypermethrin (Fastac EC) at 0.02 to 0.025 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.075 lb ai/a per season.
  • azadirachtin (Neemix 4.5)-See label for rates. Acts slowly; apply early. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. Thorough coverage and repeat applications are necessary. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol ESO) at 0.25 to 1 quart/a. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade 2EC) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per season. Do not make more than two applications after bloom. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.04 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per season.
  • Chenopodium ambrosioides extract (Requiem 25EC) at 2 to 3 pints formulated product per acre. REI 4 hr. Use high rate when conditions are favorable for heavy pressure. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • chlorantraniliprole/thiamethoxam (Voliam Flexi) at 0.1 to 0.172 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) at 0.6 to 0.9 lb ai/a per 100 gal. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • clothianidin (Belay) at 0.05 to 0.067 lb ai/a soil, 0.15 to 0.2 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 7 days foliar, 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 10 days. Do not exceed 0.2 lb ai/a per season.
  • diazinon (Diazinon 50W) at 0.5 to 1.5 lb ai/a foliar. PHI 3 days. REI 3 days. Honeydew melons only.
  • dimethoate (Dimethoate 400) at 0.5 lb ai/a melons except watermelon; 0.25 to 0.5 lb ai/a watermelon. PHI 3 days. REI 48 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 1 lb ai/a per year.
  • dinotefuran (Scorpion 35SL) at 0.05 to 0.18 lb ai/a foliar or 0.23 to 0.27 lb ai/a soil. PHI 1 day foliar or 21 days for soil. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.266 lb ai/a foliar or 0.532 lb ai/a for soil per season.
  • flonicamid (Beleaf 50SG) at 0.062 to 0.089 lb ai/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.267 lb ai/a or three applications per season. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • flupyradifurone (Sivanto 200SL) at 0.09 to 0.16 lb ai/a foliar; 0.27 to 0.37 lb ai/a soil. PHI 1 day foliar; 21 days soil. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.365 lb ai/a per season.
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro) at 0.25 to 0.38 lb ai/a soil or 0.0156 lb ai/10,000 plants for planthouse. PHI 21 days soil. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.38 lb ai/a per soil application.
  • insecticidal soap (M-Pede) at 1 to 2% solution. Potassium salts of fatty acids. See label for gal/a. PHI 0 days. REI 12 hr.
  • gamma-cyhalothrin (Declare) at 0.015 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.09 lb ai/a per season.
  • Isaria fumosorosea (PFR-97 20% WDG)-Most effective when application is initiated just before or at the first signs that target pests are present. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • malathion (Fyfanon 8) at 1 to 1.5 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 4 treatments for watermelon and 2 treatments for all others. Retreatment interval 7 days. Note: EC formulations may cause phytotoxicity on melons.
  • methomyl (Lannate SP) at 0.45 to 0.9 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day at 0.45 lb ai/a and 3 days at 0.9 lb ai/a. REI 48 hr. Limit 12 treatments per year. Do not exceed 5.4 lb ai/a per season.
  • pyrifluquinazon (PQZ Insecticide) at 0.035 to 0.047 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Limit 4 treatments. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.14 lb ai/a per year. Apply by ground equipment.
  • tebuconazole/lambda cyhalothrin (Crossover) at 0.09 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. Do not exceed 0.48 lb ai/a tebuconazole or 0.18 lb ai/a lambda cyhalothrin per season.
  • thiamethoxam (Platinum) at 0.078 to 0.172 lb ai/a soil application. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai/a.
  • thiamethoxam/chlorantraniliprole (Durivo) at 0.194 to 0.257 lb ai/a applied to the soil. PHI 30 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.172 lb ai of thiamethoxam or 0.2 lb ai of chlorantraniliprole per acre per growing season.
  • tolfenpyrad (Torac) at 0.17 to 0.21 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 4 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.42 lb ai/a per year.

Note: Pesticides may injure cucurbits. The possibility of injury is less when foliage is dry at time of application.